Foxy... you sound like Thatcher giving George Negus the once-over years ago.... 'Which people? who are they? name them? who said that?

Dear The Blue Cross,

Well, I've been described as a lot
of things on this Forum, but
as Thatcher - it's a first.

Although, I was described as
the Queen by a poster not so long
ago, so I guess that's pretty close.

The reality is - I'm way younger
than either of them, I don't
suffer from any visions of grandeur,
I work darn hard for a living, and
I'm extremely approachable (so I've
been told). I'm also greatly taller,
slender, and leggier.

But Thanks for the compliment anyway,
(I think).

You still haven't answered my questions
though - as to who exactly are you talking
about in you reference that "they should
go home?" Who should go home, what home is
that, and where?

Ah... Foxy... I was playing the Banjo a little.... he was moaning about 'them' coming here etc etc.

Many of 'us' came here, and from the Auld dart too.

Do all from the UK subscribe to every facet of 'being an Aussie'?

Thankfully not.

Dear The Blue Cross,

Big hug

and

Mwah mwah!

Thanx Pelly...I'll refer to fraccy.

In response to what you said :

//Muslim immigration is still very new, and in two or three generations the differences will be much less marked. Our hope really rests to a large extent on future generations where youth are more exposed to various cultures through school and other social activities and have the opportunity to question any extreme dogma//

I wish I could share your optimism. If they were buddhists or hindu's I could be..but not with Islam. This should tweak to some of my critics (and Proxy's) that we have not banged away at those other faiths...and Buddhism is growing faster than Islam in Australia.

I guess it depends on who we encounter, experience etc.. and I seem to cop the worst.(Muslims) in the sense of their hyper fundamentalism.

The thing which dramatically effects the truth of your statement, is world events. Note the problems in the Middle east.. (Gaza flotilla) and there is now a new flotilla from Iran on the way. Such things (and any trouble arising) immediately polarizes a very radical segment of the population and at least energizes the moderates.

To make it worse.. the Socialists jump onto this kind of thing like it was the last pair of shoes at a boxing day sale. Ohhh they LOVE it..and when the demo's come.. just start counting "Socialist Alternative" among the banners :)

Dr Berhan Ahmad is a very nice bloke in person...can't say the same for some of the others who were at the HREOC dialogue at Flemington though.

Mr Mohamed Hassan OAM

Medal of Order of Australia 2007

Recognised for "his great achievements and contribution to Education and the Islamic community since he migrated here in 1967. Mr Hassan has a wide experience as an engineer, lecturer, educational and community leader and the founding Director of Minaret College.

He was educated at Alexandra University, Egypt; Leeds University in UK, and New South Wales University, Australia. For 11 years, he worked as a lecturer at the Bendigo College of Advanced Education and in 1982 he joined the Footscray College of TAFE where he lectured Electronic Engineering for the next 10 years.

Mr Hassan is a household name in the Australian Islamic Community. He has been an active Islamic community leader since he migrated to Australia in 1967. He is a founding member of the Australian Council of Islamic Education in Schools (ACIES), which is an umbrella organisation of Islamic schools in Australia. He contributed towards the writing of the Islamic "Schools Charter" in 2001 and he initiated the ‘‘Faith Schools Declaration of 2005’’.

Mr Hassan is a strong proponent of multiculturalism, racial tolerance and respect of different faiths. Since September 11, he has fostered community harmony through inter-faith dialogue among Victorian State, Catholic, Jewish and Independent schools.

Moreover, Mr Hassan initiated the ‘’Understanding Islam’’ seminar which has been running in the City of Greater Dandenong since October 2001. Through these seminars, many Victorians, including Principals, Head of Schools, Curriculum Coordinators, Teachers, Lecturers, Police, Councilors, City Mayors, Members of Parliaments, Bankers, and Social Workers etc. have come to understand the Islamic religious tradition. On this note, Mr Hassan printed a booklet called ‘Basic Principles of Islam’ which is distributed free of charge to non-Muslims to help them have basic understanding of Islam.

In a nut shell, since his migration to Australia in 1967, Mr Hassan has contributed greatly to the socio-economic development of the country in his capacity as an engineer, lecturer, educational and community leader. He has used his position as a Muslim community leader to promote education, racial harmony and inter-faith dialogue in Australia. "

http://www.minaret.vic.edu.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=101&Itemid=89